🇮🇪 Ben Healy Stuns with Solo Victory on Tour de France Stage 6
Mathieu van der Poel reclaims yellow jersey as Irish riders impress on dramatic day
🚴♂️ Healy Breaks Away for Historic First Tour Stage Win
Ireland’s Ben Healy delivered a career-defining performance on stage six of the 2025 Tour de France, launching a bold solo breakaway with 42km to go and holding off the chasers to claim his first-ever stage win.
The EF Education-EasyPost rider crossed the line in Vire Normandie almost three minutes ahead of Quinn Simmons and Michael Storer, finishing off a powerful ride that began in a daring eight-man breakaway alongside Mathieu van der Poel.
"It’s really incredible… hours and hours of hard work. To pay them back today is amazing," Healy said.
🇳🇱 Van der Poel Regains Yellow
Despite finishing nearly four minutes behind Healy, Dutchman Mathieu van der Poel did enough to take back the maillot jaune, edging out reigning champion Tadej Pogacar by just one second in the general classification.
Van der Poel initially lost the jersey in Wednesday’s time trial but found redemption by fighting through cramps to finish eighth and reclaim the race lead.
🔥 High-Speed Drama in the Heat
The 201.5km stage from Bayeux to Vire Normandie featured six categorised climbs and blistering 27°C temperatures. The peloton averaged an intense 47km/h during the first three hours, with breakaway attempts coming early and often.
Healy was one of the first to go clear alongside Quinn Simmons, and they were joined by Van der Poel, Simon Yates, Eddie Dunbar, and others. The group stayed ahead of the peloton for over 100km.
🎯 Perfect Timing
With 42km to go, Healy made his decisive move on a flat section before the final climbs. By the next ascent, he led by 47 seconds — a margin that only grew as the kilometres ticked by.
"I knew I needed to get away and picked my moment. I think I timed it well and caught them by surprise," said Healy.
🇮🇪 Irish Cycling Resurgence
The win marked Ireland’s 15th Tour stage victory, and the first since Sam Bennett’s triumph on the Champs-Elysées in 2020. Making the day even sweeter, debutant Eddie Dunbar finished fourth, placing two Irish riders in the top four.
⏭️ What’s Next?
Stage 7 on Friday will cover 197km from Saint-Malo to Mur-de-Bretagne Guerlédan — a familiar site for Van der Poel, who claimed a stage victory there in 2021. With the yellow jersey back on his shoulders, he’ll look to defend against Pogacar and the chasing GC contenders.
